The Development of Antimony Production in Russia on the Basis of Innovative Technologies

Russia is a global antimony market leader. The three major antimony production provinces are Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Krasnoyarsk Territory and Trans-Baikal Territory. Russia’s largest antimony resources are Zhipkozhinsky and Solonechensky deposits in Sakha Republic (Yakutia) and Olimpiadinskoe deposit in Krasnoyarsk Territory. This work demonstrates the efficiency of computer programs and chemical technology aimed at the study of the behavior of collectors used in the processes of flotation of antimony, arsenic and Au (I – III) minerals. The most promising collectors for the flotation of ores containing antimony and gold on the basis of P(V) and compounds with S, O and N atoms were chosen. The mechanisms of interaction with the mixtures of two or three components of collectors were studied. High recovery of antimony and gold was reached in the processing of Au-Sb ores of Sarulah and Sentachan deposits in Sakha (Yakutia). X-ray radiometric methods of separation of antimony ores of Trans-Baikal Territory deposits were proposed. In order to choose the most cost-effective solvents for hydrometallurgical processing of Sb, Au-containing concentrates the method based on clusters formation between transition solvents and antimony minerals was suggested. The nature of Au losses was theoretically revealed in the sulfide-alkaline process. On the base of computer simulation, the formation of various complexes of (KAu) types was developed, for example, hydrosulphidic gold, thiosulfates of gold - Na3AuS4O6, antimony and arsenic gold, trithiostibate (III) and trythioarsenate (III) KAu were produced. The practice of processing of goldantimony concentrates to produce high-quality antimony trioxide and antimony-gold containing alloy (AGCA) regarding the special conditions of the Far North region, were analyzed. The affinage of AGCA was recommended. Creative project development of antimony industry in Russia in order to produce antimony compounds and pigments, including pyriform compounds and flame retardants (antipyrenes) is discussed.